Miriam O’Callaghan, Leo Varadkar, Elaine Feeney, and John Boyne amongst 2025 An Post Irish Book Awards nominees

The shortlist for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2025 has been unveiled, marking the 20th year of the annual celebration.

This year’s nominees span 19 categories, including Novel of the Year, Crime Fiction, Non-Fiction, Biography, Irish Language, Poetry, and Children’s Book of the Year.

Among the well-known names featured are Cecelia Ahern, Donal Ryan, John Banville, Brenda Fricker, Miriam O’Callaghan, and former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, alongside emerging talents such as Roisín O’Donnell, Elaine Feeney, Sophie White, and Adam Maguire.

Novel of the Year nominees include Hugo Hamilton (Conversation with the Sea), Elaine Feeney (Let Me Go Mad in My Own Way), Joseph O’Connor (The Ghosts of Rome), John Banville (Venetian Vespers), Roisín O’Donnell (Nesting), and Wendy Erskine (The Benefactors).

For Biography of the Year, actor Brenda Fricker, RTÉ presenter Miriam O’Callaghan, and former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar are among those recognised, while Colm Tóibín, Donal Ryan, and John Boyne are shortlisted for Author of the Year.

Other standout nominations include Catherine Ryan Howard and Steve Cavanagh for Crime Fiction Book of the Year, Donal Skehan and Una Leonard for Lifestyle Book of the Year, and Leona Forde for Children’s Book of the Year – Senior.

“The shortlist for this year’s awards once again highlights the extraordinary breadth and depth of talent among Irish writers,” said Chairperson Larry Mac Hale. “It’s inspiring to see such creativity and passion reflected across every category.”

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Dublin’s Convention Centre on Thursday, November 27, with the overall Irish Book of the Year revealed in a televised special on RTÉ One on December 11, hosted by Oliver Callan.

Public voting is now open at the An Post Irish Book Awards website until Sunday, November 16 at 6pm.